OSU can knock Oregon off that bubble when the teams meet Sunday for the 337th time. The Beavers won the first meeting, 76-71 in Eugene, in one of two real bright spots in Pac-12 play (along with the home win over California).

Still, OSU coach Craig Robinson said he is not frustrated by his team's current ninth-place status.

"I think that I am probably less frustrated than most of our fans out
there,'' Robinson said. "I think that they may
have overachieved this season and the expectations are high - but that is
how we want it.

"So I just wish that we could just turn the corner with
the record part of it. I know how these guys work on a daily basis, so I
am rooting for them while trying to help them find a way to win."

By the way, here's how the media saw the Pac-12 race back in the fall, and how things are now:

Prediction (actual)

UCLA (6)

California (T-1)

Arizona (T-4)

Washington (T-1)

Oregon (T-4)

Stanford (7)

USC (12)

Oregon State (9)

Arizona State (10)

Colorado (3)

Washington State (8)

Utah (11)

Onto the links ...

Oregon State should have the services of sore-ankled Eric Moreland, who keyed the Beavers' defense in the teams' first meeting of the season.

As for the Beavers in 2012, their camp opens April 3, with practices (open to the public, starting at 2:45 p.m.) on that Tuesday and also on April 5,
7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24 and 26. The Spring Game will be April 28 at Reser Stadium.